You might not know who Billy Strayhorn is but he was openly gay musician and composer in the 1940s when a time when homosexuality was deeply frowned upon.
Billy Strayhorn is a jazz composer of colour who has often been overlooked in musical history. However his story is of an early LGBT pioneer, choosing to live an open and authentic life as an openly gay man.
To celebrate his life on Friday 20th November at Cadogan Hall, a concert entitled ‘Lush Life – The Songs of Billy Strayhorn’ will celebrate his contribution to the music scene.
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The performance is being put together by Alex Webb, and will feature performance including David McAlmont.
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Strayhorn was born one hundred years ago. He was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 1964, he died in 1967 with his partner Bill Groves by his side.
